Stand



Aug. 31 1926. 1,598,016

F. J. RUNSER STAND Filed Dec. 1o; 1923 Patented lAug. 31 1926.

UNITED `STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

l FREDRICK j'. RUNSER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOIR TO THE BYRNE MANUFAC- `'.FUIB'ING COMPANY,l OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COIELPORATION OF OHIO.

emmen;

' Appuqatiunmeafnecember '10, 1923. serial 1ro.- evaass.

' 5 Tliepresent inventionrelates to standsor supports of the socket type, and has more particular reference to a stand or support for Christmas trees and the like.

One object of the present invention is to construct a tree stand of this type in which one part ma be attached to the floor or other sustaining surface and the other part may be `secured to the trunk of the tree independently of the first part to facilitate their application in their relative positions, and to provide means for interlocking the parts together to support the tree.

Another object of the invention is to rovide a tree stand with a relatively rigid socket portion adapted to prevent swaying or tilting of the tree out of its original set position, and which has a base member adapted to be secured to a support, and which is capable of being bent to conform to uneven surfaces to which it is applied, and which is also capable of taking up abnormal lateral strains without cracking or breaking.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide a tree stand of this character, which may be easily applied without the exercise of skill, and which may be quickly and easily assembled together.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawins, wherein 'igure 1 is a side elevation of a tree stand embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, enlarged, of the tree stand, showing the socket and base portions separated one from the other;

Figure 11 is a reduced side elevation of the socket portion of the stand as applied to the trunk of a tree in inclined position such as permits the easy application of the socket portion to the tree;

, Figure 5 is a detailed view of the base portion of the stand applied to a supporting block, showin how the base portion maybe easily applic after separation from the `socket portion; l

Figure; 6 is-'a perspective view, enlarged,

"of the complete tree stand with the tree relarly to Figures 1 to 7 10 designates a socket portion, which is preferably in the form of a cylindrical sleeve of suitable length to receive a substantial portion of the lower end of a tree trunk 1l, and which is provided at its lower end with external threads 12 adapted to detachably connect the socket 10 with a base member 13. The socket member 10 may be secured to the tree trunk 11 in the manner shown in Figure 4: with the tree lying down upon the floor or ground, and with the socket portion driven or otherwise suitably forced over the lower end of the tree trunk. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, if the tree trunk is of small diameter, and loosely fits in the `socket member 10, one or more wedges 14 may be employed and driven downwardly into the top of the socket 10 about the trunk 11, so as to bind the tree trunk in position. I preferably use a plurality of wedges and space them around the trunk 11, so vas to posltion the latter substantially centrally of the socket member.

The base portion or member of the tree stand comprises an upstanding collar having internal threads l5 adapted to receive the external threads 12 of the socket 10, so as to detachably couple the two parts together when the socket member 10 is turned, and an outwardly fiaring flange 16 formed with a plurality of screw receiving openings 17 therethrough for the reception of screws 18, whereby the flange 16 may be secured to a block or other support 19.

The base member 13 is preferably made from hot rolled steel plates, for example, according to the process disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 659,951. When the base member is so made, its ange 16 is capable of being bent laterally to conform to any shape Yor irregu;

` struction of base member is that it will not socket members may then be sob p the latter door 21 instead of to the block 19.

crack or break under the strain of load when imposed irregularly upon it, or due to the unevenness of the block or supporting surface.

The block, support or platform 19 may provided with an upstanding pin or screw 20, which is preferabl arranged centrally of the base member, andyis of sufficient length -to project up into the lower vend of the socket 10 when the latter is secured. in place.

The socket member is adapted to be secured to the tree trunk after it has been separatedfrom the base member, and independently thereof, and the base member 13 is adapted to be attached to the block or other support 19 after the socket 1 0 has been removed, so that access may be readily had to the screws 18 for applying them in position. lAfter'the respectlve parts have been secured in their positions u on the tree and upon the block, they may assembled to- I gether by (l) raising the tree'trunk 11 and lnging the socket member 10 into registry with the base member 13 and the base and secured together by turnin the tree and socket 10 upon the base mem er to screw the threads 12 into the threads 15 or (2) rotating the block 19 andbase member 13 relative to the" socket 10, and thus securel and detachably interlocking the base andy socket together. After the socket and base members are secured together the anchorin and centering member 2O is inserted or positioned in the block with its free end rejecting into the lower end of the tree trun l1 (see Fig. 1) to rigidly hold v the lower end of the tree trunk 11 centrally or axially of the socket 10 and from sway\` ing or tilting about the wedges as a ulcrum. As shown 1n Fig. 1, the anchoring member 20 is inserted in position from the underside of the block 19. Accordingly, when the lock is positioned on the floor or other supporting surface, the head of the anchoring member will engage this surface so that will serve to prevent the anchor# mg member from getting loose and disengaging the tree trunk.

Figure 8 illustrates a slight modification, wherein the base member 13 is secured by its flange 16 and screws 18 directly to the In this instance a relatively-small insertible block 1 22 is" fitted in the base member 13, and ispreferably reduced` at its ject into the lower o en endof the, socket 1Q. The purpose of t e block 22 is to pro vide a support for an anchoring member 23,

land having external threads at its upperend so as 'to pro-` lower end of the socket, then the block or support 22 is fitted into the base 134and final the anchoring device is driven through the block into the trunk end. The tree and stand are then positioned on' the floor and screws 18 applied to secure the flange 16 `to the floor 21.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 7, the block 19 is adapted to be placed upon the floor 24, but not secured to it so as to prevent in- `jury or marring of the floor wl11le in Fi ure 8 the base member 13 1s attached d1- rectly to the floor 21. lThe difference in these forms simply being that in the con-A struction shown in Figure 8 a small block 22 is used for carrying the anchoring member 23, while in the first form the base member 13 is attached to the block 19 which serves for not only supporting the base member but also supporting the anchoring member 20.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such chan es and modifications being restricted only y the scope of the following claims. l

`What I claim is:

l. In a tree stand, the combination of a relatively large tubular member adapted to be telescoped on and embrace a tree trunk outer end, an annular base having an upstanding tubular wall provided with lnternal screw threads arranged to engage the screwthreaded end of said tubular member and adapted to be connected thereto after 1t 1s sleeved on the tree, a device removably associated with one of said elements ,adjacent the lower end of said tubular member, and an element extending through said device andremovably engaging the lower end of the tree trunk.

2. In a tree stand the combination of a p relatively large tubular member adapted to vlar wall provided -with internal screwA engage the screwthreads arranged to threaded end of said tubular member and adapted to beconnected thereto after it is masacre sleeved on the tree, means for securing the annular base to a supporting surface, a device arranged vvithin said base in engagement with the supporting surface and telescopically fitting the lower end of said tubular member, and means extending through said device and removably engaging the lower free end of the tree trunk.

3. in a tree stand, the combination of a relatively large tubular member adapted to be telescoped on and embrace a tree trunk and having external threads at its outer end, an annular base having an upstanding tubular Wall provided with internal screw threads arranged to engage the screwtlireaded endet said tubular member and adapted to be connected thereto after it is sleeved on the tree, means for securing the annular base to a supporting surface, a device arranged Within said base in enga ement with the supporting surface and te escopically iitting the lower end oi said tubular member, and an element extending through said device and removably engaging ,ternal screw t reads on its outer end adapted to be sleeved on and embrace a tree trunk,

a relatively bendable base comprising an annular ange having an integral upstanding tubular Wall provided with screvvT threads arranged to engage the screw-threaded end .of said tubular member, means for rigidly securing the flange of said base to a supporting surface, a plurality of Wedges adapted to be driven in to the inner end of said tubular member to support the upper portion of the tree trunk in rigid relation to said tubular member, and means removably engaging the lower end ot the tree trunk and co-acting with said Wedges to prevent tipping of the tree..

in testimony whereof, li have hereunto subscribed my name.

FREDRICK J. RUNSER. 

